Burton Wilson Seely
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
O-695977
349th Bomber Squadron
100th Bomber Group, Heavy
Born: 1918
Oaklyn, New Jersey
Died: May 24, 1944
Berkenthin, Germany
Buried: Plot D, Row 17, Grave 21
Ardennes American Cemetery
Neupre, Belgium
Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Introduction
Second Lieutenant Burton Wilson Seely
Second Lieutenant Burton Wilson Seely was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Walter Seely of 12 East Bettlewood Avenue in Oaklyn, New Jersey. His mother was a teacher in the Oaklyn school system. Burton completed junior high school there, and went on to graduate from Collingswood High School in 1936.
Burton Seely entered the Army in July of 1941. He originally served in the Medical Corps, but was eventually transferred to the Air Corps and was trained as a navigator in Texas and other places in the United States. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was sent overseas in the early spring of 1944. Based at Thorpe Abbotts, England, he served with the 349th Bomber Squadron of the 100th Bomber Group. He had flown 18 missions, and was awarded the Air Medal on April 26, 1944.
On May 24, 1944, Burton Seely and his crew were on a mission to bomb Berlin, Germany. His plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and exploded when a second shell struck the aircraft, over the small city of Berkenthin in northern Germany. He was 27 years old.
Burton Wilson Seely was survived by his parents, and by a brother, Richard Seely, who was serving in the Marines.
Times A Wastin' — 349th Bomber Squadron
Burton W. Seely was the navigator of the crew led by First Lieutenant Henry N. Jesperson. This crew joined the 349th Bomber Squadron on March 3rd, 1944, and they generally flew on a B-17 (Number 42-102528) nicknamed Times A Wastin'. On their 18th mission, May 24th, 1944, this crew participated in a raid on Berlin, Germany. This plane along with eight others did not return that day. Lt. Seely, along with four others of his crew, was killed, and the rest were made prisoners by German military authorities, according to MACR report 05169.
Henry N. Jespersen crew (left to right)
Standing: Frank Gronkowsky, Radio Operator; George Kostoulakos, Engineer; Robert Atkins, Co-Pilot; Henry Neil Jesperson, Pilot; Burton Seely, Navigator.
Kneeling: Frank Fisher, Ball Turret Gunner; John Durrenberger, Tail Gunner; John Legg, Armorer and Waist Gunner; Thomas Kiriako, Waist Gunner. Inset is the Bombardier, Joseph Savino.
| Rank | Name | Role | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Lt | Henry N. Jespersen | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt | Robert F. Atkins | Co-Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt | Burton W. Seely | Navigator | KIA |
| 2nd Lt | Joseph Savino | Bombardier | POW |
| S/Sgt | George Kostoulakos | Top Turret Gunner / Engineer | POW |
| S/Sgt | Frank J. Gronkowski | Radio Operator / Gunner | KIA |
| Sgt | Frank Fischer | Ball Turret Gunner | KIA |
| Sgt | Thomas T. Kiriako | Right Waist Gunner | KIA |
| Sgt | John E. Legg | Left Waist Gunner | POW |
| Sgt | John J. Durrenberger | Tail Gunner | KIA |
Mission list supplied by John E. Legg. Targets and spellings are exactly as written — some may vary from USAAF target data.
| # | Date | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16-Mar-44 | Augsburg, Germany |
| 2 | 19-Mar-44 | Calais, France |
| 3 | 28-Mar-44 | Chateau, France |
| 4 | 1-Apr-44 | Belgium |
| 5 | 11-Apr-44 | Rostock, Germany |
| 6 | 12-Apr-44 | Belgium |
| 7 | 13-Apr-44 | Augsburg, Germany |
| 8 | 19-Apr-44 | Lippstadt, Germany |
| 9 | 20-Apr-44 | Abbeville, France |
| 10 | 22-Apr-44 | Hamm, Germany |
| 11 | 24-Apr-44 | Friedrichshafen, Germany |
| 12 | 1-May-44 | St. Omar, France |
| 13 | 7-May-44 | Berlin, Germany |
| 14 | 11-May-44 | Liege, Belgium |
| 15 | 12-May-44 | Brux, Czechoslovakia |
| 16 | 20-May-44 | Brussels, Belgium |
| 17 | 23-May-44 | Troyes, France |
| 18 | 24-May-44 | Berlin, Germany |
Lieutenant B. W. Seely Is Killed In Action
LIEUTENANT B. W. SEELY IS KILLED IN ACTION
Another gold star will be added to Oaklyn’s Honor Roll as Mr. and Mrs. E. Walter Seely, of 126 East Bettlewood avenue, have received word that their son, Lieutenant Burton W. Seely, was killed in action over Germany on May 24th.
A navigator on a bomber, Lieutenant Seely had previously been reported missing.
He was a graduate of Collingswood High School, and had been awarded the Air Medal. He entered the service in July, 1941, and went overseas last February.
His mother is a teacher in the Oaklyn schools.
2nd Lt. Burton W. Seely
Sent Medal to Mother
Lieutenant Seely is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Seely, who were informed by the War Department he was missing on a mission over Germany on May 24. He entered the Medical Corps in June, 1941, and transferred to the Air Corps, where he served as a navigator. A graduate of Collingswood High school, he has a brother, Richard, who is serving in the Marines. His mother is a teacher in the Oaklyn public schools, recently received an Air Medal from him, the citation stating it was awarded April 26.
2nd Lt. Burton W. Seely
Of 126 East Bettlewood avenue, Oaklyn, who was reported killed in action over Germany. He was previously listed as missing since May 24. Lieutenant Seely was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Seely, who were informed by the War Department he was killed in action over Germany last May 24. He was a graduate of Collingswood high school, and had been awarded the Air Medal. He entered the Medical Corps in June, 1941, and went overseas last February. His mother is a teacher in the Oaklyn schools.
Service Record
Burton Wilson Seely — Serial Number: O-695977.
Entered Service: July 29, 1941. First served in the Medical Corps. Transferred to Air Corps and sent to Texas. Became a Second Lieutenant and Navigator in lead Bomber B-17. Sent Overseas in early spring of 1944. Stationed at Thorpe Abott, England. Had flown about eighteen Missions. Final Rank: Second Lieutenant.
Ribbons and Awards: Air Medal — Hq. 3rd Bombardment Division, Ap. O-559: April 26, 1944. Air Medal Oak Leaf. Purple Heart (Given to family: Feb. 7, 1945.)
Shot down and crashed at Berkenthin on way to Berlin. May 24, 1944. Was killed by an explosion the second time the bomber was hit. Buried in U.S. Military Cemetery, Newville-en-Condroz, Belgium.
Photos
Burton Wilson Seely